Weeding tool



T. GENTIscH WEDING TooL 'Filed Nov. 3, 1926 Theodafe Gef/isch Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

masseria strisce! OF SiOKeNfr-r;WaSHiessGN f Y WnEDING- Toor..

Application med Nimaia spiace-seria afrenta.

My present inventionv relates to improve-V- ments inywceding` yftoglxs; ofjthe manually op-.

erated type and is designed for use in re- 'moving Weeds from lawns and grass plots,

and is particularly adapted for use in destroying and removing dandelions, plantains and other similar plants.

The tool or implement is provided with'an Y will hereinafter be more fully set forthvand' l5 claimed.k

In the accompanying drawings, I have ilustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein'the parts are combined and arranged according V to theJ best moder I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention. v

Figure 1v is a view in elevation showing the device or tool in operativeposition lwith the auger inserted in the ground and cutting or tearing the roots of a plant; Y

Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail verticalsectional view at the lower end of the tool show- Y ing the auger withdrawn withinfitscasing or sleeve;`

Fig.' 3 is a view partly in section'and partly in elevation as seen from the left in Fig.' 2 with the auger in extended position; and

Figa is an enlarged detail sectional view at 4 4 in Fig. 3 showing the guide slot for the auger. i n .l

In carrying out my invention as illustrated in thedrawings, I utilize a wooden handle 'l of suitable length whichY is adapted to tele- 407 scope or reciprocate in a tubular metallic extension or sleeve 2 at the lower end of theA handle. This sleeve is fashioned with apair of longitudinally extending slots 3 andthe handle is provided with a'ftransversely extending pin 4, the ends of whichfprotrude through these slots, and the pin acts as Aay rguide in the relative movement of the handle 1 'and sleeve 2. On ythe end of the handle located within lthe sleeve a metallichead or ferrule 5 is attached and this ferrule'yis fashioned with an annular shoulder 6 Withinthe sleeve and a spring 7 is interposed between the shoulder 6 and a collar 8 fixed by screws 9`within the sleeve 2. The ferrule 5 is of.

smaller diameter than the handle 1, and the 1 provided with teeth orcorrugations 11 for through the'slot causes a rotary movement -isY pushed downwardly in the sleeve against `the tension of the spring 7 andthe handle is 6() guided by the pin L which passes through the Y handle and a portion of its ferrule. -The ferruleforms the functions `of holder for the auger or bit 10 whichis tapered as shown in the drawings and itse'dges are 6.5

tearing to pieces or `cutting through the plants or weeds'to be destroyed. The lower lend 12 of the sleeve 2 is providedA with a i l transversely extending slot 13 through which* the lauger passes, and this slot impartsthe rotary movement to the auger as the latter Y 'l passes through the slot 13.

The steinlt of the auger is fashioned with an enlarged cylindrical bearing head 15 'located in the lower end of the ferrule. The shank 16- above the head 15 is `fashioned with a b all or Vspherical head 17 and this shank is retainedv f within the resilient inturned arms or tongues 18 forming elementsof the split tool holder.

Itk kwill be apparent in Fig. 2 that vasthe handle 1 is forced'down against thev tension ofthe lspring 7 thatvthe auger is passed through lthe slot 13 in the closed end l'of the sleeve 2.- v [Thispassa'ge lof "the, auger blade or corkscrew movement ofthe auger, with the bearing head 15 and the'sph-erica-l yhead 17 rotating in the tool holder. A's the auger passes through the plant, it tears the roots tol pieces, andas the pressure is relieved from the handlel, thespring 7 lift-s the handlel and with it the'auger 10. f 'Ihe auger is refr tained within the tool holder by means of thel l jaws 19 on theends of the resilient arms 18, and in this manner the spherical head 17 is' permitted to revolve in the jawsbut isre.- tained against longitudinal displacement. r'Ihe removal ofthe tornroots from the soil is accomplished by the auger, and these torn V(l parts are removed from the y auger by the walls'of the slot 13 in the bottomend ofthe sleeve2. A i I-Iaving thus `fully described my invention,

what I claim as new and'desire-to secure by. 105 n Letters Patent is'zy f 1. In a weeding tool the combinationwith a sleeve and its ,telescopinghandla of a` tool holder. on the handle within theV sleeve, an

auger retained bythe tool'holder and rota- 1103 V `V table therein, and means on the sleeve for 'rotating v'thej auger 'y pressed..-

.as the handle isede'- (ing, andra shank on the auger having a ro- 'tata-ble 'bearing in said tool holder. f v "3 'lhefcornbinatonWith a'sleeve having.

slotted side Walls,V ofahandlevhavng a guide pin therein and adapted to telescope in said sleeve, a collar iXed Within the sleeve and a spring interposed between the collar and the 15 lower end of the handle, a tooll holder fixed to the handle comprising resfilientrarms and jaws, an anger adapted to comtfwithV a slot intheflower end of the sleeve, and a shank on the auger rotatably supported in the tool 20 holder. f i

In testimony whereof I aiX my signatre. v

"THEoDoRE enrirsorr.- j 

